Chapter 180 – 180 ⥤ Are You My Master?

“Tsk tsk, Sōsuke, I was wrong about you. Who would have thought that beneath your seemingly kind exterior lies such a beastly heart? Now that you’ve finally shown your true colors, it’s time for me to rid Soul Society of this great evil!”

Akira circled around the unconscious girl, noting familiar features in her delicate face.

Aizen: “…”

The moment that person appeared in the laboratory, he knew this guy would start talking nonsense.

“Nothing to say?” Akira grinned menacingly, “You’d better tell me the truth. Considering our brotherhood, I might at least leave your corpse intact.”

Aizen nodded, explaining calmly, “I found her by chance while returning from the Rukongai. She’s a special existence. Though her name is unknown, she possesses remarkable talent — enough to become an elite Shinigami or even a Captain. When in danger, she unleashes unprecedented potential, strengthening herself to escape. Based on my observations, this potential closely resembles Mimihagi’s power. After consideration, I brought her back.”

After speaking, he calmly looked at Akira, awaiting his response.

Aizen knew his close friend and troublemaker well. Beneath that seemingly foolish exterior lay sharp intuition. Moreover, this guy had his own set of moral principles that outside gossip couldn’t sway.

It was precisely because of this that he often chose to respect his friend’s opinions.

Hearing this, Akira was stunned for a moment, then stroked his freshly groomed chin, falling into deep thought.

He understood his friend’s meaning perfectly. It was about how to handle this girl.

For a long time, out of consideration for his feelings, Aizen had chosen rebels or evil wanderers as test subjects. Of course, there were nobles as well.

The girl before them was likely just an innocent bystander, brought back solely for her amazing talent.

After a moment of contemplation, under Aizen’s gaze, Akira asked seriously:

“Sōsuke, I’m curious — what exactly are you pursuing? I remember we discussed something similar long ago, and you said becoming a Seated Officer was your greatest dream. Now that your dream has been realized, what’s your new life goal?”

Aizen fell silent, unsure what he should or shouldn’t say to the current Akira.

Their friendship was like a small boat on the vast ocean, at risk of capsizing at any moment. To preserve this hard-won bond, he always remained cautious when handling certain matters.

But some things had to be faced. Hidden conflicts were like accumulated explosives — once the fuse was lit, the consequences would be unpredictably terrible.

However, just as he was about to speak, Akira casually sat down on the nearby soft sofa, appearing lazily exhausted.

“Well, I actually know even if you don’t want to say it. It’s about changing Soul Society’s corrupt and cumbersome system. The nobles and Central 46 are just historical problems left over from millions of years of development. These high-and-mighty nobles are like maggots feeding on Soul Society’s massive body — producing no value, yet comfortably enjoying the benefits brought by the common people. How does that saying go?”

He spread his hands, his tone becoming more arrogant.

“Soul Society has become tainted again.”

A trace of surprise flickered across Aizen’s face. He never expected such words from this man — so different from his usual demeanor.

“My intuition tells me your current thoughts are quite radical.” Akira sat up straight and said frankly, “But I’m magnanimous, so I won’t hold it against you. You’re probably wondering why I think this way. As the old man’s disciple, shouldn’t I be a guardian of Soul Society’s laws? No — completely wrong.”

He stared intently at his friend, their eyes meeting, his voice resonating clearly through the room.

“Coming from the lawless district, I understand the rules of this world’s underbelly better than any Shinigami or high-and-mighty noble. So, let me ask you this: if you proceed with your plans, how are you any different from those ‘high-and-mighty’ nobles?”

Aizen calmly observed the young man on the sofa, contemplation dancing in his eyes.

“Akira, I’m glad you could think this far.” He smiled after a moment, “Before, I might have used any means necessary to achieve my goals, but your existence has taught me more principles. People should have boundaries…”

On the sofa, Akira nodded approvingly, wearing an expression of ‘this student can be taught’.

Just as he was putting on airs, Aizen suddenly spoke.

“Then I’ll leave her in your care.”

Before he could refuse, the parent-on-the-run opened the laboratory door and walked straight out.

Seeing this, Akira frowned, “Something feels off… did my adopted son just go buy milk for his child?”

Unable to figure it out, he turned his attention to the girl.

Orange short hair, a budding figure, worn clothes from living in the Rukongai, bare feet covered in dust. Familiar, too familiar.

Perhaps because the girl was still sleeping, Akira couldn’t quite place who she was, but after pondering, he decisively picked her up and left the laboratory.

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The girl had a dream.

In her dream, she went to heaven, where she didn’t have to worry about hunger or cold, with endless delicious food and warm clothes everywhere.

However, when hunger woke her, what met her eyes was no longer the familiar dilapidated house with drafts everywhere, but a spacious, bright room with unique decorations.

Metal floors, minimalist design, everything revealing the room owner’s distinct aesthetic.

Then, the girl noticed the young man crouching in front of her, with delicate features and a harmless face, looking just like a landlord’s foolish son.

Her eyes immediately lit up, and she asked.

“Are you… my master?”

Akira: “?”

He wondered if he’d stumbled into some strange play—where did “master” come from?

Seeing his confusion, the girl hastily explained.

In the Rukongai, she said, kind-hearted people sometimes took in starving children. Though these children had to work and call their benefactors “master”, at least they wouldn’t starve to death.

The girl, gifted with Reiryoku, needed regular meals to sustain herself. But in the Rukongai, food sources were controlled by wanderers and the powerful, making meals nearly impossible to come by.

She had lived between feast and famine, often going days without food. Now, having found someone who seemed kind, she desperately wanted to secure their protection.

“First, tell me your name.”

“Rangiku, Rangiku Matsumoto!”

Akira nodded slightly, unsurprised. Her distinctive orange hair and youthful appearance had already given away her identity.

As one of the most iconic characters in the manga, he knew her well. But seeing her as a teenager, even younger than himself, he hadn’t recognized her right away.

If memory served, she’d been taken for experiments after Aizen discovered abnormalities in her soul. He’d thought his presence had altered the timeline, yet Rangiku still couldn’t escape that bastard’s grasp — though things had played out differently this time.

{T/N: He stole part of her soul that contained the Nail of the Soul King without her knowledge. It wasn’t an experiment, but rather an actual theft that wasn’t even carried out by him personally.}

Well, he’d just have to ask the One-Eyed Boss to strike his adopted son with lightning when possible.

He wouldn’t let himself be fooled so easily!

With that thought, Akira straightened his back and declared boldly, “That’s right, I am your master! From today on, you must obey all my commands.”

Rangiku furrowed her brows slightly, wondering why this person seemed rather dim-witted.

No matter — the more foolish, the better. She’d play along until she found a chance to escape.

Her earlier words had been pure deception. The Rukongai held no kindness; it was a place where only the strong survived, and the weak were left to starve.

Without power, the young Rangiku could only resort to ambush and deception to protect herself. Though she didn’t know why things had suddenly gone wrong this time, she was confident her wit would help her deceive him and find an opportunity to escape to freedom.

Just as she was contemplating her escape, Akira left the room but quickly returned with a pink-haired girl in tow.

He took out some konpeitō candy from his pocket, gave it to Yachiru, patted her pink head, then pointed at the bewildered young woman.

“Her name is Rangiku Matsumoto. I’ll leave her in your care from now on. Help her get familiar with life in the 11th Division quickly, and get her some clean clothes while you’re at it.”

Yachiru stuffed all the konpeitō in her mouth at once, her cheeks puffing up like a squirrel’s, and spoke happily through her full mouth.

“Leave it to me, Aki-kun! I’ll take good care of her!”

Because Akira had an endless supply of konpeitō, in the 11th Division, only Zaraki was closer to him than this little pink-haired girl.

Rangiku was dumbfounded, not understanding what he was planning. This little girl wasn’t even as tall as her waist — was he really okay with leaving her in the child’s care?

However, just as she was thinking this, she felt a weight on her waist.

“Haha, hello, I’m Yachiru Kusajishi!”

Looking at the childish face that had appeared so close without her noticing, Rangiku suddenly had an ominous premonition.

It seemed her earlier calculations would come to nothing…

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Leaving Rangiku with Yachiru was born of necessity.

Looking across the vast 11th Division, despite being full of talented people, the little girl was the only female Shinigami.

The one fortunate thing was that Yachiru proved quite reliable when it counted. She excelled at taking care of others — just look at how Zaraki, directionally challenged and illiterate, had managed to live well in the Rukongai. She deserved much of the credit for that.

He hoped the two would get along well.

Harboring this unrealistic wish, Akira left the 11th Division.

Recently, a member of the Onmitsukidō’s Keiratai had brought news from Yoruichi, requesting his presence at the 2nd Division after finishing his work.

She had something good to show him.

To this invitation, he gladly went.

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2nd Division, Training Ground Six.

The 2nd Division boasted the most training grounds in the Gotei 13 — a testament to the Shihōin Clan’s wealth. These spacious grounds featured complete training facilities, protected by defensive barriers that Marenoshin Ōmaeda himself had established with the Kidō Corps.

The emphasis on luxury was unmistakable.

“Akira!” called the dark-skinned girl from the training ground, “Quick, come here!”

In an instant, Akira materialized before her, his speed catching even Yoruichi off guard.

“Your Shunpo speed…” She clicked her tongue, “That’s just ridiculous.”

Akira nodded shamelessly, “Naturally — I’ve gotten where I am through diligent practice. Even Yama-jii was shocked by my effort.”

Yoruichi knew this to be true, having witnessed his dedication firsthand.

Back at the Shin’ō Academy, he would practice sword strikes under waterfalls with weights. After joining the 11th Division, he’d even convinced Kisuke to build a gravity room — a training sanctuary — in the barracks, drawing Officers from other divisions.

Throughout Soul Society, few matched Akira’s dedication to training.

His example had inspired Yoruichi to push herself, developing and mastering new techniques.

“The good thing?” Akira asked eagerly, “Let me see quickly!”

Yoruichi’s grin revealed pristine fangs, stark against her tanned skin.

Under his watchful gaze, she drew her family’s hereditary Zanpakutō.

Electric arcs crackled through the air like an untamed beast, radiating raw power.

Yet when the arcs touched Akira’s body, they retreated into the Zanpakutō as if recalling some past encounter.

Yoruichi wasn’t troubled by its deference. After all, Akira had helped defeat the thunder beast in the Zanpakutō’s Inner World — its respect was natural.

She raised the blade high, releasing golden electric arcs that encircled her body. Thunder crackled as brilliant light filled the air. Surrounded by lightning, her purple hair danced while her presence grew ever stronger.

Just like a thunder god from mythology!

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep